Britten: Owen Wingrave (2013)
Kent Nagano, Conductor
Margaret Williams, Director
When Britten started to work on Owen Wingrave he conceived the opera both for performance on stage and for TV production.
In fact the first TV production of Owen Wingrave was broadcast in 1971, two years before the staged premiere at Covent Garden. This 2001 production, made for Channel 4 television, intriguingly tells the drama of Owen, who refuses to follow a military career like his ancestors. The story, in which pacifism makes up the main theme, was written by Henry James, and the libretto adapted by Myfanwy Piper. The Canadian baritone Gerald Finley stars as Owen with Peter Savidge, Hilton Marlton and Josephine Barstow at his side.
The production was directed by the award winning TV director Margaret Williams. Highly acclaimed conductor Kent Nagano is the musical director of this performance featuring the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.
“The cast is outstanding: Gerald Finley as Owen, the formidable Dame Josephine Barstow as his terrifying aunt and Martyn Hill as his militaristic grandfather. Who says singers can‘t act? One of the best opera films ever.” The Sunday Times
February 2013
Arthaus Musik
Sound Format: PCM Stereo
Picture Format: 16:9
DVD Format: DVD 9 / NTSC
Subtitle Languages: GB (Original Language), DE, FR, ES
Running Time: 92 mins
Cast
Gerald Finley – Owen Wingrave
Peter Savidge – Spencer Coyle
Josephine Barstow – Miss Wingrave
Anne Dawson – Mrs Coyle
Elizabeth Gale – Mrs Julien
Charlotte Hellekant – Kate
Martyn Hill – Sir Philip Wingrave
Hilton Marlton – Lechmere
Andrew Burden – Narrator
Performed with: Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin & Choristers of Westminster Cathedral Choir